Madam, - The refusal of the Department of Justice to issue a visa to Hizbullah official Ibrahim Mousawi to attend a conference in Galway is regrettable and harmful to Ireland's reputation in Lebanon and the wider region.
Until recently Hizbullah, the leading party of the single largest ethnic-religious grouping in Lebanon, formed part of a national unity government, holding two ministerial posts. Are we now to presume that if a national unity government is renegotiated, thereby greatly reducing the potential for renewed sectarian conflict, the Irish Government will refuse visas to Lebanese Ministers on the grounds that they are also members of Hizbullah?
For a Government that lectures the world on its successful engagement with Sinn Féin/IRA and the subsequent power-sharing structures put in place by the Good Friday Agreeement, this smacks of double standards. It also disappoints those of us who look with pride upon the enduring contribution of Ireland's soldiers to UN peace operations in Lebanon.
Senior Hizbullah officials have recently taken part in important dialogue initiatives in Switzerland and in France, engagements hosted by both countries' respective foreign ministries. It is understood that Department of Justice refused Mr Mousawi's visa on "national security grounds" ( The Irish Times, October 15).
Would Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan kindly elaborate - and explain why he believes Hizbullah may be actively conspiring against the Irish State and plotting to endanger its citizens? And what role did Mr Mousawi's proposed participation in a conference in Galway play in all of this? - Yours, etc,
EDWARD BURKE, Rosscabery, Co Cork.
Madam, - Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan acted wisely in refusing a visa to a Hizbullah speaker.
Hizbullah is a violent, racist, sectarian, Jihadist group that has committed acts of terrorism against innocent civilians throughout the world. It aims to raze Israel to the ground and commit genocide against the Jews. Just read the speeches of Hassan Nasrallah.
Re-arming, despite UN Security Council resolutions, it has threatened to turn the Middle East again into a tragedy of blood. Refusing a visa to a Hizbullah speaker does not offend the right to freedom of expression. The words of Hizbullah are not concepts of persuasion but triggers of violence.
Refusing a visa does not insult democracy. For democracy is not just an electoral process; it must also involve respecting the human rights of others as moral equals, a fundamental test that Hizbullah fails absolutely.
To advance its aim eventually to turn all of Lebanon into a Jihadist terror state, Hizbullah mutilates the aspirations of many Lebanese to develop a true democracy. Alan Shatter showed characteristic courage in asking the Minister to do the right thing. - Yours, etc,
TOM COONEY, c/o UCD School of Law, Belfield, Dublin 4.